– Spoiler Review –
With the last two-part drop for The Bad Batch’s season three, “Identity Crisis” & “Point of No Return,” the final season enters its endgame, as Omega and Emerie find themselves at a crossroads where their choices will change the course of everything the show’s been dealing with so far.
As much as “Identity Crisis” & “Point of No Return” would’ve still hit if aired alone, a week at a time, I understand the choice to have these back-to-back, as they both center on the choices Omega and Emerie have to make in their unique yet parallel circumstances. All the scenes with Omega and Emerie in two of the premiere’s three episodes pay dividends, especially in “Identity Crisis,” which matched the same level as the excellent solo Crosshair episodes of season two, as Emerie grapples with the reality of Project Necromancer and her own humanity at the same time. The dual storyline about the mother having her child taken and Emerie meeting and working with the child subjects kept in a special Necromancer Pit doubled the emotional impact of the episode, but I’d almost argue we didn’t quite need to see a new high M-count target brought in as the haunting score by the Kiner family and the sterile existence of the current “specimens” did enough work on their own. Overall I understand why the scenes were important to have though, as It was neat to see Cad Bane, even if the M-count job of capturing the poor little baby alien feels far beneath him, but now Emerie has a better idea of the supply chain for the Project, as Bane meets them on a highly guarded space station in the orbit over Coruscant, so if she would ever choose to help Omega and their fellow clones, there’s potential they could use this information to their advantage. As for if she’ll help them when the time comes, that remains to be seen, but “Identity Crisis” certainly offers a glimmer of hope, no matter how hard Kevin, Deana, and Sean of the Kiner family try to plant unease and uncertainty in our bones with their score, as, much like the title of the second episode out today, there’s no return to normal for Emerie after this. Omega’s compassion for their fellow clones and tenacity in escaping have left their mark, and comparing how Omega was treated to the other high M-count kids in the Pit, Emerie can’t help but try to bond with them like she did with her sister, though she finds their broken sense of hope the hardest pill to swallow.
As she comes to gripes with what she’s seeing, Emerie visit Nala Se. Emerie’s scene with her is short but wonderfully to the point, as Nala Se reminds her what’s going on wasn’t her choice but she was trying her best to do something, anything about it. She lays the responsibility on Emerie then, as she took Se’s job, the choice being hers if she’ll let these atrocities to children continue or to do something about it, though part of me believes Emerie knew things were heading this way when she requested Dr. Hemlock to take over. Omega wormed her way in so well, Emerie decided she had to see the truth for herself, what they were all doing, to see if it was worth it, worth her life and her choices so far, and the truth, much like Asajj Ventress warned Omega in “The Harbinger,” is rarely comforting. She can’t handle lying to the kids, of their sad existence being treated like lab subjects and nothing else, clone troopers gunning them down with a stun blast instead of trying to talk them down from escaping, and I’m sure she’s seeing a lot of her life, her own upbringing in them, realizing how wrong it was she was treated similarly, leading to the big question forming in her mind: why would she want to pay forward such traumas she herself experienced? The way this question resonates with the real world, be it those who have had traumatic pasts full of personal pain to the lawmakers in each country making decisions if only to keep their power, when does someone realize they could inadvertently be visiting sins committed to them on those they leave behind, continuing the cycle, and what does it say about them, more than anything else, if they don’t change anything once the realization arrives? Emerie battles with this question, but the ending of the episode offers a great hint at her answer: she gives Omega’s straw Lula doll, which she kept safe, to Eva, one of the kids in the Necromancer project. “Crisis” works well not only from the stellar score by the Kiner family, but also thanks to Keisha Castle-Hughes’ performance as Emerie, as while she’s still rather emotionless, between the small inflections of her voice and the animation team’s littlest details on her face, we see the cracks forming in her mind. I’m glad we got to see Emerie’s choice here, as while it would’ve been a great suspenseful moment to see her make it later when Omega makes her return to Tantiss (we’re getting there, don’t you worry!), not being able to see her arrive on the why she behind this decision, or get this character focus, would’ve been a shame. And what makes Emerie’s choice even better here is getting to see Omega on the precipice herself, making her own big decision in the next episode, showing the parallel journeys these two are on and how they’ll collide sooner than later.
Even with Emerie’s peek behind the Necromancer curtain, there’s still some components we’re missing, as we don’t see who is in the chamber Hemlock’s looking at in the opening of “Identity Crisis” or more of the red room he took Palpatine into (was the room he was in this episode underneath that red room?), but if you somehow didn’t hate Hemlock yet, I can’t imagine not hating him after “Crisis.” The way he speaks about the specimens, how he disregards them and can’t lift an ounce of emotion for them, especially thanks to Jimmi Simpsons’ acting, shows there isn’t anything redeemable left, though not like that was much in question anyways. It was interesting to have the scene between him and Tarkin, who seems to have his hands in every pie imaginable whether he should or not, as learning he’ll face his own problems if they fail or continue leaking funds trying to maintain this project gives me hope he’ll meet a terrible fate worth his crimes after whatever Omega and team manage to do at Tantiss. Is Tarkin looking to maneuver his way into controlling this too? Is this the Emperor’s way of pushing Hemlock without having to do it directly? I’ll be interested to see what happens to Necromancer by the time the season ends, especially since we know Palpatine moves some of this stuff by the original trilogy era to Exegol already.
As for Omega and her choice, it’s all part of the aptly titled episode “Point of No Return,” since we’re now barreling towards the show’s ending across only four more episodes. As if the animation team heard my critique from the future last episode, “No Return” takes us to Pabu and shows it thriving, with large crowds again and little animals moving about, showing how lively the quaint little town can get. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on Pabu, as while everyone seems happy and celebratory, Clone Force 99 isn’t in the same mood, as they are packing up supplies and heading out, ready to set Pabu behind them. Heeding Asajj Ventress’ warning, they want to leave before the innocent population of Pabu gets caught in the crossfire of the Empire’s hunt for Omega. In fact, that’s where the episode begins, as “No Return” reveals CX-2 (I was calling him CX-3 since he’s the third overall we’ve seen but they are officially calling him CX-2 so I’ll be using that) sneaking aboard Phee Genoa’s ship and stealing her travel logs, all of which was kicked off by Hemlock ordering him to track her down or else in “Identity Crisis.” I loved the opening moments between the group, from Wrecker and Gonky’s comedy, Omega spending time with Lyana Hazard again, to the group saying goodbye to Shep Hazard, the mayor, the last two being characters we haven’t seen since last season despite spending time on Pabu throughout this season. In particular, Lyana and Omega’s scene was my favorite, as it’s great to see Omega with someone else her age again, while the tribute she leaves at their museum of sorts is rather touching: her Lula doll and Tech’s goggles. Leaving Lula feels like a hint at her knowing things will never be the same and she must make some big decisions coming up, while the goggles reopen the loss of Tech a little (the episode where he died aired about a year ago!), though cuts down any hope he survived since I’m pretty sure they would’ve removed them from his body for her to have them (unless those are from a different time his glasses were messed up and she kept them, but I doubt it).
It doesn’t take long before CX-2 gains a visual on Omega, calls in the reinforcements, and begins his attack, going first for Clone Force 99’s ship, the Marauder! Still loading supplies, Wrecker notices the bombs almost too late, grabbing Gonky and jumping towards the ocean, though he’s still caught in the edges of the blast. As the team finds him, alive yet unconscious, the quiet peace of Pabu is forever shattered as the Empire arrives, the Destroyer disembarking tons of troops to scour the town to find her. With Wrecker out of commission and Hunter trying to steal a ship so they can flee, it leaves Omega and Crosshair (and Batcher, until she chases off stormtroopers from the locals) with the important task of avoiding the Empire’s forces. When Hunter’s plan fails, thanks to CX-2, Omega and Crosshair have a discussion about what to do next and of the three brothers for Omega to have by her side at this moment, Crosshair is the best choice because, unlike the others, he’s the only one who would’ve agreed to her eventual choice. Omega still carries the weight of the Empire’s focus on her, blaming herself for the peaceful Pabuans’ current plight, as they are rounded up, beaten, and their homes ransacked in an attempt to find her, so when she suggests the only course is for her to surrender, to help lessen the burden on the innocent people who don’t deserve this trouble, I wasn’t too surprised. Crosshair doesn’t agree with the plan initially, of course, but at least he hears her out, knowing how far she’s come and how capable she can be considering she’s the reason he’s even with the group in the first place, which is more than I would’ve expected had Hunter been there, who would’ve argued for anything else, or Wrecker, who would’ve gone and tried to barrel all the Empire over to get them out. This moment builds off all the interactions between the Crosshair and Omega so far this season, so when he ends up agreeing to her plans, as he’s tasked with shooting a tracker onto CX-2’s ship, it’s about as unsurprising as Omega’s decision.
Nothing is ever as easy as one thinks however, as while Omega is escorted to CX-2’s ship, Crosshair is interrupted by the roving patrols, initially holding him back from making his shot with the tracker. When he finally subdues them, the usually reliable sniper, who has been working on his hand tick thanks to Omega’s meditation idea, makes a vital miss, the tracker falling short and into the ocean, leaving Omega alone and them none the wiser on her location. It’s a devastating scene, as we see her so determined and focused on CX-2’s ship, as she thinks her brothers will be able to come find her, but in reality they are still in the same boat of not having any way to locate her or Tantiss. I can only imagine Hunter’s reaction to what transpired, as it could go anywhere from white hot rage, acceptance, or questioning Crosshair’s true loyalties. Regardless, there are only four episodes left, so they’ll have to get over this and focus on finding her if they can ever hope to rescue her…or will she and Emerie liberate Mount Tantiss’ clones without the rest of the group, with them only getting there to help them in the final leg of the escape? After how damn entertaining this season has been, I’m ready for whatever answers the show’s creative teams have in store for us.
Here are a few other things:
- Writer Amanda Rose Muñoz takes over for both episodes and she once again does not disappoint. Tight pacing, emotional beats, and allowing the animation team to carry the subtleties of some moments come out strong in both. Hopefully she’s got a few more this season and continues in whatever animation show is next!
- In case you weren’t aware, Taiwan was hit by a big Earthquake early on April 3 and the animation team at CGCG there is instrumental in making all of the memorable shows we’ve gotten so far. Thankfully, it seems the team is well, per Lucasfilm Animation Director Keith Kellogg, but let’s join him in keeping them in our thoughts, as well as all of Taiwan for the destruction and loss of life the event brought.
- Ever since Solo: A Star Wars Story (as well as a Solo Denny’s commercial of all things) featured a member of the same feline species with the four ears used for the family at the opening of “Identity Crisis,” I’ve been hoping we’d see more of the species one day so I was beyond thrilled about their appearance here!!
- Remaining season three release schedule: April 10: Episode 12 (“Juggernaut”) | April 17: Episode 13 (“Into the Breach”) | April 24: Episode 14 (“Flash Strike”) | May 1: Episode 15 (“The Cavalry Has Arrived”)
- From the moody shot of Tantiss, new species and locations, there was a lot to love animation-wise, though such beauty comes with a reminder of the Unwhitewash The Bad Batch campaign, which I hope it they’ll consider going forward with any more clones in animation.
The Bad Batch season three episodes “Identity Crisis” & “Point of No Return” let Omega and Emerie take center stage in pivotal moments, where their choices push us towards the show’s final season end game in intriguing and nerve-racking ways.
+ Emerie getting her due
+ Omega and Emerie’s choices
+ Building off all the great character work so far.
– Unwhitewash the Bad Batch
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.
THE BAD BATCH REVIEWS
Season Three: 3.1/3.2/3.3 Confined & Paths Unknown & Shadows of Tantiss | 3.4 A Different Approach | 3.5 The Return | 3.6/3.7 Infiltration & Extraction | 3.8 Bad Territory | 3.9 The Harbinger
Season Two: 1.1/1.2 Spoils of War & Ruins of War | 1.3 The Solitary Clone | 1.4 Faster | 1.5 Entombed | 1.6 Tribe | 1.7/1.8 The Clone Conspiracy & Truth and Consequences | 1.9 The Crossing | 1. 10 Retrieval | 1.11 Metamorphosis | 1.12 The Outpost | 1.13 Pabu (by Katie) | 1.14 Tipping Point | 1.15/1.16 The Summit & Plan 99
Season One: 1.1 Aftermath | 1.2 Cut and Run | 1.3 Replacements | 1.4 Cornered | 1.5 Rampage | 1.6 Decommissioned | 1.7 Battle Scars | 1.8 Reunion | 1.9 Bounty Lost | 1.10 Common Ground | 1.11 Devil’s Deal | 1.12 Rescue on Ryloth | 1.13 Infested | 1.14 War-Mantle | 1.15 Return to Kamino | 1.16 Kamino Lost